Shipping activity in the Persian Gulf dropped sharply on Wednesday as tensions with Iran intensified amid signs the U.S. was for a potential strike, according to maritime intelligence assessments.

A U.S. official confirmed to Digital on Monday that the U.S. Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group had entered the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, as President continued to keep military options open.

“At this point, the objectives and desired outcomes of any U.S. military action remain unclear—and likely intentionally so,” Robert Peters told Digital.

“This implies there are a broader set of possibilities and retaliatory scenarios being considered.

“That said, there are five , tankers, and cargo ships in the Gulf today—two of which transited the Strait of Hormuz earlier without any obvious issues—but those already in the Gulf and bound for the U.S. face increased risk,” he added.

Trump, who earlier this week hinted at ” from Iran, also shared a post about the situation on Truth Social Wednesday morning.

” is heading toward Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet than the one sent to Venezuela, led by the formidable aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln,” he wrote.

“As with Venezuela, it is ready, willing, and able to carry out its mission rapidly—with speed and force, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal—NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS—that benefits all parties. Time is running out; it is truly critical! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL!”

The post came as the Human Rights Activists News Agency () reported that the death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has exceeded 6,200 since they began on Dec. 28.

The organization stated that nearly 17,100 more individuals are under investigation, with “a continuation of both scattered and mass arrests” as internet restrictions persist.

Peters, meanwhile, noted that “shipping companies have been advised to lower their overall risk when operating in the Arabian/Persian Gulf.

“This means limiting the number of ships that could be exposed to retaliatory actions, and sometimes ships will wait for further instructions closer to their next port in the Gulf,” he said. “At this juncture, it is more prudent to wait farther away in case of an escalation.”

Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader , warned on Wednesday that any U.S. military action—from any source and at any level—”will be considered the start of a war, and the response will be immediate, comprehensive, and unprecedented, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and all those who support the aggressor,” according to .

“Our brave Armed Forces are prepared—with their —to respond immediately and forcefully to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

As tensions rise in the region, Peters explained how cargo charterers might approach shipowners to load cargo in the Gulf.

“Then they will decide to avoid the Gulf for the time being until tensions ease,” Peters added. “Interestingly, last year the Iranians did not take retaliatory measures in the maritime domain. Israeli shipping was already staying away from the Gulf, and U.S. military action was highly focused on nuclear capabilities.”

But Peters cautioned that the situation “may see something similar again. If there is a much broader, regime-destabilizing operation, the effects could be significant for broader shipping.

“During times like this, we typically observe greater risk avoidance and inquiries from those asked to pick up cargo for U.S. charterers and destined for the U.S.,” he added.